Reform Party Craves Effective Leadershi

November 21, 1999|By WILLIAM E. GIBSON Washington Bureau Chief

Hardly anti-trade, he believes strongly in binding the world together with commercial ties. He favors a stronger role for the United Nations. And he contends that the United States should embrace and lead the global economy.

These positions put him at odds with the Reform Party of Perot and Buchanan, who both rail against the North American Free Trade Agreement and warn that similar trade pacts will send U.S. jobs overseas.

Anderson "needs to read our platform and see if he agrees with it," said David Goldman of Sarasota, Florida Reform Party chairman. ``If he's running just to stop Pat Buchanan, then his candidacy is a terrible idea. Because in America, you should run because you want to be president and not because you don't like someone."

All political parties shift over time. All tend to break into factions, and all are influenced by whomever they select as a presidential candidate.

"The Republican Party changed under Ronald Reagan. The Democratic Party changed under Bill Clinton," said Rapoport, the third-party expert at William & Mary. "With the Reform Party you have a smaller base, so the potential for change is all the greater. If you flood the party with 150,000 Buchanan activists, that is huge."

The payoff of $12.6 million of campaign funds creates an irresistible allure, almost a "hostile takeover" mentality, he said.

"It does have the potential to split the party apart. But it is crucial, if it survives, to get to that 5 percent in the next election for the party to exist beyond next year."

A Buchanan candidacy in particular could have an impact on the general election if he draws enough conservative voters away from the Republican nominee to give Democrats the advantage in key states.

Reform leaders talk hopefully of winning elections, not just playing spoilers.

"Underneath the surface, middle-class Americans, which is most of us, are fed up with special interests running the country and buying their way into our government. I think we are ready for an explosion," said Jack Gargan of Cedar Key, selected to become the Reform Party national chairman in January.

Gargan, backed by Ventura and opposed by Perot, acknowledged that his party is troubled by internal disputes. He said he hasn't even talked with Perot, the party's founder, in years.

"Are we going to put this party together? You bet we are," Gargan said. " I know it's a long shot. But nobody thought Gov. Ventura would win either, did they?"

William E. Gibson can be reached at wgibson@sun-sentinel.com or 202-824-8256 in Washington.